Comelec to investigate Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur shooting incidents

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will look into the shooting incidents in Bukidnon and Lanao Del Sur to determine whether or not they were related to Eleksyon 2022, Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan has said.

Pangarungan issued the statement after eight persons were hurt after members of two families shot at each other in Lanao del Sur.

Five persons were also wounded after labor leader Leody De Guzman, his party, and a group of indigenous persons were shot at in Quezon Bukidnon.

Pangarungan condemned the violence and said the poll body was offering additional security detail to all presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the investigation upon their request.

“These incidents of violence have no place in the process of our elections. This is why the Comelec has been more active in pursuing peace covenants and providing decisive action if threats that disturb a peaceful election arise,” Pangarungan said in a press statement Tuesday.

Earlier, the Partido Lakas ng Masa —  party of presidential candidate Leody de Guzman said shots were fired during their visit to Barangay Butong in the municipality of Quezon in Bukidnon.

They were in the province to supposedly help the Indigenous Peoples of Manobo-Pulangiyon reclaim their ancestral lands.

No confirmed deaths were reported due to the incident but two individuals sustained gunshot wounds. De Guzman and his senatorial candidates Roy Cabonegro and David D'Angelo, meanwhile, were all safe.

In a separate statement, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia likewise denounced the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act” that should be “condemned by peace-loving Filipinos”.

“If this is an election-related incident, count the Comelec in to use all our powers to get to the bottom of this and hold accountable the culprits and face the full force of the law,” he said in a message to reporters.

Pangarungan further reiterated that the towns of Tubaran and Malabang in Lanao del Sur have been declared under Comelec control due to threats in the upcoming national elections.

The Philippine National Police previously confirmed the areas are now under strict monitoring, adding the Special Action Force had already deployed several platoons in the municipalities. -NB, GMA News